Cigarette pack opener



.May-19, 1931.

A. P. DE, VEGA CIGARETTE PACK OPENER Filed Jan. 16. 1929 I enter where cigarettes are vended.

Patented May 19, 193i UNITED STATES."

PATENT OFFICE AXEL 1'. DE VEGA, OF IBOS'ION, MASSACEUSEITS cremr'rn rncx orrmna Application filed January 18, 1929. Serial No. 832,930.

This invention relates to cigarette pack openers and has for its general object toprovide a means of opening a package of ci arettes quickly and with a minimum of 5 e ort without injuring the contents. A further object o the invention is to provide a device which will sever the end wrappin of a pack neatly and without causing smal portions of the wrapper to be strewn about, which is the usual result when the pack is torn open in a haphazard fash-' ion with the fingers. Another object of the invention is to com bine the utility of the device as a pack open- 7 or with that of an advertising medium.

Other objects and features will more fully appear from the accom anying specification in connection with the rawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

80 In the drawings:

Fig. 1.is a plan view of a pack of cigarettes showing the relative position of the' opener while severing the end of the wrapping from the pack. i Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation of a pack with the front wall of the pack broken away to show the opener in elevation in the same relative position as that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a different 40 embodimento'f the invention. Fig.. 4 is aperspective view illustrating the manner in which the device shown in Fig. 3 is usedto open a package of cigarettes.

The device is chiefly adapted to opening 4 cigarette packs but may be used for a number' of other purposes. The device is extremely com act and for that reason may be readily carried about the person and if 'so carried is found useful for many things besides the opening of cigarette packs. For

instance it may be used as a letter opener or as a finger nail cleaner. The device may be constructed in various forms without/departing from the invention. Aside from the portable type a useful form ma be constructed which has means to attac it to a fixed support. Such a device may be attached toa wall, a piece of furniture such as a smoking stand, easy chair or the like or in some convenient spot or at several points about a store selling cigarettes. Most everybody who has entered a store and purchased a package of cigarettes has experienced the awkwardness in trying to open the pack by the ordinary method of breaking or tearlng the top open with the fingers often resulting in broken nailsnot to mention the loss of time and irritation of temper. In using the opener this is all" 1 avoided. Furthermore the device will con- 7 stitute a valuable asset in such a place of business. By-placingone or more ofthe openers in convenient locations customers will appreciate the extra service thus rendered. '1

, A preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a thin blade 1 of suitable material having a maximum width exceeding the thickness of a pack of cigarettes one end of which is V-shaped tapering to a point 2 at its extremity. If it be desired the tapering sides of the. V may be beveledas at 3 to provide a keener edge with which to sever the end from the pack. The endl opposite the point 2 may be made of various shapes. As illustrated herein it is of circular form and is connected to the opposite end of the blade by a portion 5 which tapers in a direction opposite to that of the cutting edges 3 from the point of maximum width to meet the circular portion at points which span about one quarter of the circular end portion. The tapered portions may be pointed by edges which are straight or they may be irregu ing)from the invention.

- esirably the V-shaped portion of the blade is considerably shorter than the width of a cigarette pack so that where only a portion of the top is to be opened the point 100 ar or curved without departof the blade will not penetrate the side of the wrapper opposite to the side through which the oint is inserted.

'Another form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the end of the blade .opposite to the point or severing end is provided with a shank portion 6 which is bent back upon the blade so that it is spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the end wrappings upon-the pack. The shank portion 6 is provided with screw holes 7 by means of which the device may be attached to a fixed support. When so attached the device becomes a very convenient and efficient opener. If the support has a smooth flat surface it is necessary simply to slide the end face of the pack along the surface until the portion of the pack it isdesired to open strikes the point of the opener then with a quick pull the pack is opened as much as desired. A short push or pull will open the corner exposing 4 or 5 cigarettes while a longer push or pull will cut the whole top leaving it attached only to one of the long sides. When using the opener thus it will be found that the flat surface of the support aids in guiding the packwhich insures a straight even cut and prevents the blade from injuring the contents of the pack.

The invention may be made of any material suitable to the use to which it may be put. In the form illustrated in Figs. 3 and l: it ma be made of a metal in order to provide su cie'nt rigidity, such as brass, aluminum, copper, bronze or steel. Some of the above materials may also be used to make the portable opener shown in Figs.

tain an advertising legend as shownin the drawings. The simplicity of the device adds to its effectiveness and durability. andalsoreduces the cost of manufacture. Since the cost of manufacture is low the opener may be distributed freely as an advertising medium at small cost and in this manner educate more people to the real'usefulness of the opener so that the demand will thereby be increased.

Having thus described'theinvention, what is claimed as new, and'desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: e v 1. A cigarette pack opener of I thev characlter described comprising a thin flat blade of uniform thickness of a maximum width materially exceeding the thickness of a pack and converging at one end and of a length greater than the width of the package-to provide a handle, operable to enter the pack between the ends of the cigarettes and the end of the enclosed wrapper and upon endwisemovement selectively to cut a part or the whole of said end from the side walls of the wrapper.

2. A cigarette pack opener of the character described comprising a thin flat blade of a uniform thickness having a maximum width materially exceeding the thickness of a pack and converging to a point at one end and of a length greater .than the width of the package, operable to enter the pack between the ends of the cigarettes and the end of the enclosed wrapper, and upon endwise movement selectively to cut a part or the whole of said end from the side walls of the wrapper.

3. A cigarette pack opener of the character described comprising a thin flat blade of uniform thickness and of a maximum width exceeding the thickness of a pack and V- shaped at one end and of a length greater than the width of the package whereby upon endwise movement the apex of the V will pierce the wrapper to permit the opener to enter between the ends of the cigarettes and the end portion of the wrapper to severe part or the whole thereof from the side walls of the pack.

4.. A. cigarette pack opener of the character described comprising a thin flat blade, of uniform thickness of a maximum width materially exceeding the thickness of a pack converging at one end to a point and having at its other end a handle disposed in the same plane as said blade having an area bearing advertising matter, operable upon endwise movement to pierce the wrapper to permit the opener to enter between'the ends of the cigarettes and the end portion of the wrapper .to sever a part or the whole thereof from the side walls of the pack;

5. A. ci arette pack opener of the character descri ed comprisin maximum width exceedin the thickness of a-pack converging to a point at one end and having means adapted to secure it to a sup.- port whereby when the end face of the pack is moved along the surface of the support against said oint the blade will enter be- Ytween the en 5 of the cigarettes and the end a thin blade of a a thin blade of a stantially e ual to the thickness of the end I portion of t e wra ping whereby when the end face of a pack as moved along the surface of the support against said oint the blade will enter between the on s of the cigarettes and the'end portion oi the wra ping to selectively sever a part orthe who e thereof from the sidewalls of the pack.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name-to this specification.

AXEL P. DE VEGA. 

